Display apparatus and method of compensating gamma value of the same

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes a display panel, a first coordinate calculator, a second coordinate calculator and a gamma setter. The display panel includes a first display area and a second display area. The first coordinate calculator is configured to calculate color coordinates of first image data of the first display area. The second coordinate calculator is configured to calculate color coordinates of second image data of the second display area. The gamma setter is configured to adjust luminance of the first image data, the color coordinates of the first image data, luminance of the second image data and the color coordinates of the second image data.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2020-0052689, filed on Apr. 29, 2020 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office KIPO, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Example embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a displayapparatus and a method of compensating a gamma value of the displayapparatus. More particularly, example embodiments of the presentinventive concept relate to a display apparatus including an electronicmodule and a method of compensating the gamma value of the displayapparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a display apparatus includes a display panel and a displaypanel driver. The display panel includes a plurality of gate lines, aplurality of data lines, a plurality of emission lines and a pluralityof pixels. The display panel driver includes a gate driver, a datadriver, an emission driver and a driving controller. The gate driveroutputs gate signals to the gate lines. The data driver outputs datavoltages to the data lines. The emission driver outputs emission signalsto the emission lines. The driving controller controls the gate driver,the data driver and the emission driver.

The display apparatus may further include an electronic module tooperate an additional function. When the electronic module is disposedunder the display panel, a transmission area may be formed in thedisplay panel for the operation of the electronic module so that theluminance difference and the color coordinate difference of the image onthe display panel may be generated due to the transmission area.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a displayapparatus operating a gamma compensation for a first display areaoverlapping an electronic module and a second display area notoverlapping the electronic module.

Example embodiments of the present inventive concept also provide amethod of compensating a gamma value of the display apparatus.

In an example embodiment of a display apparatus according to the presentinventive concept, the display apparatus includes a display panel, afirst coordinate calculator, a second coordinate calculator and a gammasetter. The display panel includes a first display area and a seconddisplay area. The first coordinate calculator is configured to calculatecolor coordinates of first image data of the first display area. Thesecond coordinate calculator is configured to calculate colorcoordinates of second image data of the second display area. The gammasetter is configured to adjust luminance of the first image data, thecolor coordinates of the first image data, luminance of the second imagedata and the color coordinates of the second image data.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include acompensation verifier configured to determine that the luminance of thefirst image data and the color coordinates of the first image datacompensated by the gamma setter are in a target luminance range and in atarget color coordinate range and the luminance of the second image dataand the color coordinates of the second image data compensated by thegamma setter are in the target luminance range and in the target colorcoordinate range.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include animage receiver configured to receive the first image data and the secondimage data and an image storage configured to store the first image dataand the second image data received from the image receiver and totransmit the first image data to the first coordinate calculator and thesecond image data to the second coordinate calculator.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include animage processor configured to receive the first image data and thesecond image data from the image storage and to convert the first imagedata and the second image data to a form appropriate for being displayedon the display panel.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include afirst curve calculator configured to receive the color coordinates ofthe first image data from the first coordinate calculator and tocalculate a gamma curve of the first image data and a second curvecalculator configured to receive the color coordinates of the secondimage data from the second coordinate calculator and to calculate agamma curve of the second image data.

In an example embodiment, the first display area may include a displayportion and a transmitting portion. The second display area may notinclude the transmitting portion.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include anelectronic module disposed under the display panel in an areacorresponding to the first display area.

In an example embodiment, the electronic module may be a camera module.

In an example embodiment, the camera module may overlap the firstdisplay area in a plan view. The camera module may have a circularshape. The first display area may be disposed at a first end portion ofthe display panel. The first display area may have a rectangular shape.The second display area may be a portion of a display area of thedisplay panel except for the first display area.

In an example embodiment, the camera module may overlap the firstdisplay area. The camera module may have a circular shape. The firstdisplay area may be disposed at a first end portion of the displaypanel. The first display area may have a circular shape. The seconddisplay area may be a portion of a display area of the display panelexcept for the first display area.

In an example embodiment, the electronic module may be a facialrecognition sensor configured to recognize a user's face.

In an example embodiment of a display apparatus according to the presentinventive concept, the display apparatus includes a display panel, afirst gamma controller and a second gamma controller. The display panelincludes a first display area and a second display area. The first gammacontroller is configured to adjust luminance of first input image dataof the first display area, color coordinates of the first input imagedata, luminance of second input image data of the second display areaand color coordinates of the second input image data. The second gammacontroller is serially connected to the first gamma controller. Thesecond gamma controller is configured to adjust the luminance of firstinput image data and the color coordinates of the first input image dataand configured not to adjust the luminance of second input image dataand the color coordinates of the second input image data.

In an example embodiment, the display apparatus may further include anelectronic module disposed under the display panel. The electronicmodule may be disposed in an area corresponding to the first displayarea. The electronic module may not be disposed in an area correspondingto the second display area.

In an example embodiment, the first gamma controller may be configuredto receive a plurality of first compensation values corresponding to aplurality of grayscale values, configured to receive the first inputimage data and the second input image data and configured to apply theplurality of first compensation values to the first input image data andthe second input image data according to the plurality of grayscalevalues of the first input image data and the second input image data.

In an example embodiment, the second gamma controller may be configuredto receive a plurality of second compensation values corresponding tothe plurality of grayscale values, configured to receive the first inputimage data to which the first compensation value is applied andconfigured to apply the plurality of second compensation values to thefirst input image data according to the plurality of grayscale values ofthe first input image data.

In an example embodiment of a method of compensating a gamma value of adisplay apparatus, the method includes calculating color coordinates offirst image data of a first display area of a display panel, calculatingcolor coordinates of second image data of a second display area of thedisplay panel and adjusting luminance of the first image data, the colorcoordinates of the first image data, luminance of the second image dataand the color coordinates of the second image data.

In an example embodiment, the method may further include determiningthat the adjusted luminance of the first image data and the adjustedcolor coordinates of the first image data are in a target luminancerange and in a target color coordinate range and determining that theadjusted luminance of the second image data and the adjusted colorcoordinates of the second image data are in the target luminance rangeand in the target color coordinate range.

In an example embodiment, the method may further include receiving thefirst image data and the second image data and transmitting the receivedfirst image data to a first coordinate calculator and the receivedsecond image data to a second coordinate calculator.

In an example embodiment, the method may further include receiving thecolor coordinates of the first image data from the first coordinatecalculator, generating a gamma curve of the first image data based onthe color coordinates of the first image data, receiving the colorcoordinate of the second image data from the second coordinatecalculator and generating a gamma curve of the second image data basedon the color coordinates of the second image data.

According to the display apparatus and the method of compensating thegamma value of the display apparatus, the display apparatus includes thefirst coordinate calculator, the second coordinate calculator, the gammasetter and the compensation verifier operating the gamma compensation ofthe first image data for the first display area overlapping theelectronic module and the second image data for the second display areanot overlapping the electronic module. Thus, the display quality of thedisplay panel may be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventiveconcept will become more apparent by describing in detailed exampleembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according toan example embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an electronic moduledisposed under the display panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the display panel of FIG.1 and the electronic module of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a conceptual diagram illustrating a pixel structure of afirst display area of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3D is a conceptual diagram illustrating a pixel structure of asecond display area of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of extractingfirst image data of the first display area of the display panel of FIG.1 and second image data of the second display area of the display panelof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a driving controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a first gamma controller and asecond gamma controller of a driving controller of a display apparatusaccording to an example embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating luminances for grayscale values aftergamma compensation according to a comparative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating luminances for grayscale values aftergamma compensation according to a comparative embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating luminances for grayscale values after thegamma compensation of the driving controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10A is a graph illustrating luminances for grayscale values afterthe gamma compensation of the driving controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10B is a graph illustrating luminance differences according tograyscale values after the gamma compensation according to thecomparative embodiment and luminance differences according to grayscalevalues after the gamma compensation of the driving controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10C is a graph illustrating color coordinate differences accordingto grayscale values after the gamma compensation according to thecomparative embodiment and color coordinate differences according tograyscale values after the gamma compensation of the driving controllerof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display panel of adisplay apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

Hereinafter, the present inventive concept will be explained in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according toan example embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display apparatus includes a display panel 100and a display panel driver. The display panel driver includes a drivingcontroller 200, a gate driver 300, a gamma reference voltage generator400, a data driver 500 and an emission driver 600.

The driving controller 200 and the data driver 500 may be integrallyformed in one IC chip. The driving controller 200, the gamma referencevoltage generator 400 and the data driver 500 may be integrally formedin one IC chip. The driving controller 200, the gate driver 300, thegamma reference voltage generator 400 and the data driver 500 may beintegrally formed in one IC chip. The driving controller 200, the gatedriver 300, the gamma reference voltage generator 400, the data driver500 and the emission driver 600 may be integrally formed in one IC chip.

The display panel 100 includes a plurality of gate lines GL, a pluralityof data lines DL, a plurality of emission lines EL and a plurality ofpixels (not shown) electrically connected to the gate lines GL, the datalines DL and the emission lines EL. The gate lines GL extend in a firstdirection D1, the data lines DL extend in a second direction D2 crossingthe first direction D1 and the emission lines EL extend in the firstdirection D1.

The driving controller 200 receives input image data IMG and an inputcontrol signal CONT from an external apparatus. For example, the inputimage data IMG may include red image data, green image data and blueimage data. The input image data IMG may include white image data. Theinput image data IMG may include magenta image data, cyan image data andyellow image data. The input control signal CONT may include a masterclock signal and a data enable signal. The input control signal CONT mayfurther include a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontalsynchronizing signal.

The driving controller 200 generates a first control signal CONT1, asecond control signal CONT2, a third control signal CONT3, a fourthcontrol signal CONT4 and a data signal DATA based on the input imagedata IMG and the input control signal CONT.

The driving controller 200 generates the first control signal CONT1 forcontrolling an operation of the gate driver 300 based on the inputcontrol signal CONT, and outputs the first control signal CONT1 to thegate driver 300. The first control signal CONT1 may include a verticalstart signal and a gate clock signal.

The driving controller 200 generates the second control signal CONT2 forcontrolling an operation of the data driver 500 based on the inputcontrol signal CONT, and outputs the second control signal CONT2 to thedata driver 500. The second control signal CONT2 may include ahorizontal start signal and a load signal.

The driving controller 200 generates the data signal DATA based on theinput image data IMG. The driving controller 200 outputs the data signalDATA to the data driver 500.

The driving controller 200 generates the third control signal CONT3 forcontrolling an operation of the gamma reference voltage generator 400based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the third controlsignal CONT3 to the gamma reference voltage generator 400.

The driving controller 200 generates the fourth control signal CONT4 forcontrolling an operation of the emission driver 600 based on the inputcontrol signal CONT, and outputs the fourth control signal CONT4 to theemission driver 600.

The gate driver 300 generates gate signals driving the gate lines GL inresponse to the first control signal CONT1 received from the drivingcontroller 200. The gate driver 300 may output the gate signals to thegate lines GL. The gate driver 300 may be directly integrated on thedisplay panel 100. The gate driver 300 may be mounted on the displaypanel 100 as an IC chip.

The gamma reference voltage generator 400 generates a gamma referencevoltage VGREF in response to the third control signal CONT3 receivedfrom the driving controller 200. The gamma reference voltage generator400 provides the gamma reference voltage VGREF to the data driver 500.The gamma reference voltage VGREF has a value corresponding to a levelof the data signal DATA.

In an example embodiment, the gamma reference voltage generator 400 maybe embedded in the driving controller 200, or in the data driver 500.

The data driver 500 receives the second control signal CONT2 and thedata signal DATA from the driving controller 200, and receives the gammareference voltages VGREF from the gamma reference voltage generator 400.The data driver 500 converts the data signal DATA into data voltageshaving an analog type using the gamma reference voltages VGREF. The datadriver 500 outputs the data voltages to the data lines DL.

The emission driver 600 generates emission signals to drive the emissionlines EL in response to the fourth control signal CONT4 received fromthe driving controller 200. The emission driver 600 may output theemission signals to the emission lines EL. The emission driver 600 maybe directly integrated on the display panel 100. The emission driver 600may be mounted on the display panel 100 and an IC chip. Although thegate driver 300 is disposed in a first side of the pixels of the displaypanel 100 and applies the gate signal to the pixels and the emissiondriver 600 is disposed in a second side of the pixels of the displaypanel 100 and applies the emission signal to the pixels for convenienceof explanation, the present inventive concept may not be limitedthereto. Alternatively, the gate driver 300 and the emission driver 600may be disposed in the first side of the pixels of the display panel 100and apply the gate signal and the emission signal to the pixels.Alternatively, the gate drivers 300 and the emission drivers 600 may bedisposed in both sides of the pixels of the display panel 100 and applythe gate signal and the emission signal to the pixels.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the display panel 100 ofFIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an electronicmodule CM disposed under the display panel of FIG. 1. FIG. 3B is across-sectional view illustrating the display panel 100 of FIG. 1 andthe electronic module CM of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is a conceptual diagramillustrating a pixel structure of a first display area DA of FIG. 2.FIG. 3D is a conceptual diagram illustrating a pixel structure of asecond display area DB of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3D, the display panel 100 may include the firstdisplay area DA and the second display area DB surrounding the firstdisplay area DA.

The display apparatus may further include the electronic module CMdisposed under the display panel 100. In the present example embodiment,the electronic module CM may be a camera module. Alternatively, theelectronic module CM may be a sensor module.

The electronic module CM may be an electronic element using light orsound. For example, the electronic element may be a sensor receiving andusing light like an infrared sensor. For example, the electronic elementmay be a camera capturing images by receiving light. For example, theelectronic element may be a sensor measuring a distance of an object orrecognizing a fingerprint by outputting and detecting light and sound.For example, the electronic element may be a lamp outputting light. Forexample, the electronic element may be a speaker outputting sound. Theelectronic element using light may use light in various wavelength bandssuch as visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light.

For example, the electronic module CM may include a plurality of sensorssensing a user. For example, the electronic module CM may function as atleast one of a proximity sensor determining the proximity of the user, agesture sensor determining the user's gesture, a fingerprint sensorrecognizing the user's fingerprint, an iris recognition sensorrecognizing the user's iris and a facial recognition sensor recognizingthe user's face.

In the present example embodiment, the electronic module CM may overlapa first end portion of the display panel 100. The electronic module CMmay have a circular shape. The electronic module CM may overlap thefirst display area DA of the display panel 100. The electronic module CMmay not overlap the second display area DB.

For example, the first display area DA may have a shape corresponding toan area in which the electronic module CM is disposed. For example, thefirst display area DA may have a rectangular shape, may be disposed atthe first end portion of the display panel 100 and may overlap the areain which the electronic module CM is disposed. However, the shape of thefirst display area DA is not limited to the rectangular shape, but mayhave a circular shape and a polygonal shape including a rectangularshape, a hexagonal shape and so on.

The second display area DB may be a portion of the display area of thedisplay panel 100 except for the first display area DA. For example, thefirst display area DA and the second display area DB do not overlap eachother and the combined of the first display area DA and the seconddisplay area DB may cover all of the display area of the display panel100.

For example, the first display area DA may be a display area overlappingthe camera. For example, the first display area DA may be a display areaoverlapping the sensor. For example, the first display area DA mayinclude a transmitting portion and a display portion and the seconddisplay area DB may not include the transmitting portion but may includeonly the display portion.

For example, a density of the pixel of the first display area DA may bedifferent from a density of the pixel of the second display area DB. Forexample, a size of the pixel of the first display area DA may bedifferent from a size of the pixel of the second display area DB. Forexample, an emitting area of the first display area DA may be differentfrom an emitting area of the second display area DB. For example, thenumber of the pixels in a unit area of the first display area DA may bedifferent from the number of the pixels in the unit area of the seconddisplay area DB. For example, a shape of the pixel of the first displayarea DA may be different from a shape of the pixel of the second displayarea DB.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the first display area DA of the display panel 100may include the transmitting portion TA where the pixels P are notdisposed. The first display area DA of the display panel 100 may includea substrate 10, a display layer 20 disposed on the substrate 10, anencapsulation layer 30 disposed on the display layer 20, an inputsensing layer 40 disposed on the encapsulation layer 30, an opticalfunction layer 50 disposed on the input sensing layer 40, an adhesivelayer OCA disposed on the optical function layer 50 and a window 60disposed on the adhesive layer OCA.

The display layer 20 includes the pixels P. The pixels P may not bedisposed in the transmitting portion TA of the first display area DA.

A lower protecting film 70 may be disposed under the substrate 10. Thelower protecting film 70 may have a recess in an area corresponding tothe electronic module CM. Unlike FIG. 3B, the lower protecting film 70may not have the recess in the area corresponding to the electronicmodule CM.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the first display area DA may include the displayportion where then pixels are disposed and the transmitting portion TAwhere the pixels are not disposed. As shown in FIG. 3D, the seconddisplay area DB may include only the display portion where the pixelsare disposed and not include the transmitting portion TA.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of extractingfirst image data of the first display area DA of the display panel 100of FIG. 1 and second image data of the second display area DB of thedisplay panel 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating adriving controller 200 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a first image displayed at a central portionPA of the first display area DA of the display panel 100 may be capturedby a first imaging apparatus CAM1 for gamma compensation (gammacorrection) of the display apparatus. The captured data by the firstimaging apparatus CAM1 may be referred to first image data.

A second image displayed at a central portion PB of the second displayarea DB of the display panel 100 may be captured by a second imagingapparatus CAM2 for the gamma compensation of the display apparatus. Thecaptured data by the second imaging apparatus CAM2 may be referred tosecond image data.

The first display area DA may correspond to an area in which theelectronic module CM is disposed. The first display area DA may furtherinclude an area surrounding the area in which the electronic module CMis disposed. The second display area DB may be a display area excludingthe first display area DA among a display area. The pixel structure ofthe first display area DA may be different from the pixel structure ofthe second display area DB. For example, a size of a switching elementin the pixel of the first display area DA may be different from a sizeof a switching element in the pixel of the second display area DB. Forexample, a current-voltage curve of the switching element in the pixelof the first display area DA may be different from a current-voltagecurve of the switching element in the pixel of the second display areaDB. For example, luminance per a unit area of the first display area DAmay be different from luminance per the unit area of the second displayarea DB.

Generally, when the display apparatus does not include the electronicmodule, only the central portion (e.g. PB) of the display panel 100 maybe captured to perform the gamma compensation. However, when the displayapparatus includes the electronic module, the pixel structure of thefirst display area DA and the pixel structure of the second display areaDB are different from each other. Thus, when only the central portion(e.g. PB) of the display panel 100 is captured to perform the gammacompensation for the display apparatus including the electronic module,the gamma compensation may not be properly performed for the firstdisplay area DA.

Thus, in the present example embodiment, the gamma compensation may beperformed using the first image data of the first display area DA andthe second image data of the second display area DB. For example, adiameter of a lens of the first imaging apparatus CAM1 may be less thana diameter of a lens of the second imaging apparatus CAM2.

The driving controller 200 may perform the gamma compensation of thedisplay apparatus. The driving controller 200 may include a gamma setter240, a first coordinate calculator 250 and a second coordinatecalculator 255.

The first coordinate calculator 250 may calculate color coordinates ofthe first image data of the first display area DA. The second coordinatecalculator 255 may calculate color coordinates of the second image dataof the second display area DB.

The gamma setter 240 may compensate the gamma value of the first imagedata by adjusting luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data. For example, the gamma setter 240may adjust the luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data such that the luminance of the firstimage data and the color coordinates of the first image data to be closeto a target luminance and a target color coordinate.

For example, the gamma setter 240 may adjust the luminance of the firstimage data and the color coordinates of the first image data by changinga grayscale value of the first image data.

The driving controller 200 may further include the compensation verifier270 determining that the luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data compensated by the gamma setter 240are in a target luminance range and in a target color coordinate rangeand the luminance of the second image data and the color coordinates ofthe second image data compensated by the gamma setter 240 are in thetarget luminance range and in the target color coordinate range.

When the luminance of the first image data and the color coordinates ofthe first image data compensated by the gamma setter 240 exceeds thetarget luminance range and the target color coordinate range, the gammasetter 240 may adjust the luminance of the first image data and thecolor coordinates of the first image data until the luminance of thefirst image data and the color coordinates of the first image data to beclose to a target luminance and a target color coordinate.

Similarly, when the luminance of the second image data and the colorcoordinates of the second image data compensated by the gamma setter 240exceeds the target luminance range and the target color coordinaterange, the gamma setter 240 may adjust the luminance of the second imagedata and the color coordinates of the second image data until theluminance of the second image data and the color coordinates of thesecond image data to be close to a target luminance and a target colorcoordinate.

For example, the target luminance may be 420 nit for the highestgrayscale value. The target color coordinate may be (0.299, 0.315).

The driving controller 200 may further include an image receiver 210receiving the first image data from the first imaging apparatus CAM1 andthe second image data from the second imaging apparatus CAM2 and animage storage 220 storing the first image data and the second image datareceived from the image receiver 210 and transmitting the first imagedata to the first coordinate calculator 250 and the second image data tothe second coordinate calculator 255.

The driving controller 200 may further include an image processor 230receiving the first image data and the second image data from the imagestorage 220 and converting the first image data and the second imagedata to a form appropriate for being displayed on the display panel 100.

For example, the image processor 230 may receive the first image dataand the second image data and may convert the first image data and thesecond image data into the data signal DATA. The image processor 230 mayoutput the data signal DATA to the data driver 500.

The data driver 500 may convert the data signal DATA to the data voltageand may output the data voltage to the display panel 100.

When the gamma setter 240 adjusts the first image data and the secondimage data, the image processor 230 receives the adjusted first imagedata and the adjusted second image data and converting the adjustedfirst image data and the adjusted second image data to the formappropriate for being displayed on the display panel 100.

When the gamma setter 240 adjusts the first image data and the secondimage data, the adjusted first image data and the adjusted second imagedata are outputted to the display panel 100 through the image processor230 so that a user may check the change of the image with eyes.

The driving controller 200 may further include a first curve calculator260 receiving the color coordinates of the first image data from thefirst coordinate calculator 250 and generating a gamma curve of thefirst image data and a second curve calculator 265 receiving the colorcoordinates of the second image data from the second coordinatecalculator 255 and generating a gamma curve of the second image data.The first and second curve calculators 260 and 265 may output the gammacurve of the first image data and the gamma curve of the second imagedata to the first and second image apparatuses CAM1 and CAM2.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a first gamma controller GC1 anda second gamma controller GC2 of the driving controller 200 of a displayapparatus according to an example embodiment of the present inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, the first gamma controller GC1 and thesecond gamma controller GC2 may be an example implementation of thedriving controller 200.

When the input image data IMG is received, the first gamma controllerGC1 and the second gamma controller GC2 may operate the gammacompensation to the input image data IMG using a determined compensationvalue and may transmit the compensated data to the data driver 500.

For example, the first gamma controller GC1 may compensate both firstinput image data corresponding to the first display area DA and secondinput image data corresponding to the second display area DB.

For example, the second gamma controller GC2 may compensate only thefirst input image data corresponding to the first display area DA andmay not compensate the second input image data corresponding to thesecond display area DB.

The first gamma controller GC1 may adjust the luminance of the firstinput image data, the color coordinates of the first input image data,the luminance of the second input image data and the color coordinatesof the second input image data. For example, the first gamma controllerGC1 may adjust the luminance of the first input image data and the colorcoordinates of the first input image data by changing the grayscalevalue of the first input image data. For example, the first gammacontroller GC1 may adjust the luminance of the second input image dataand the color coordinates of the second input image data by changing thegrayscale value of the second input image data.

The first gamma controller GC1 may receive a plurality of firstcompensation values COMP1 to COMPN corresponding to a plurality ofgrayscale values, receive the first input image data and the secondinput image data as an input signal IDATA and apply the firstcompensation value COMP1 to COMPN to the first input image data and thesecond input image data according to the grayscale value of the firstinput image data and the second input image data to generate an outputsignal ODATA. The first gamma controller GC1 may output the outputsignal ODATA.

The first gamma controller GC1 may receive a first input control signalITC. For example, the first input control signal ITC may include a firstinput vertical start signal, a first input horizontal start signal and afirst input data enable signal.

The first gamma controller GC1 may output a first output control signalOTC. For example, the first output control signal OTC may include afirst output vertical start signal, a first output horizontal startsignal and a first output data enable signal. For example, the firstgamma controller GC1 may output the first output control signal OTC tothe second gamma controller GC2. In addition, the first gamma controllerGC1 may also output the first output control signal OTC to the gatedriver 300 and the data driver 500 in an embodiment.

The second gamma controller GC2 may be disposed at a next stage of thefirst gamma controller GC1. The second gamma controller GC2 may receivethe output signal ODATA of the first gamma controller GC1 as an inputsignal (LIDATA). The second gamma controller GC2 may adjust theluminance of the first input image data to which the first compensationvalue COMP1 to COMPN is applied (hereinafter referred as ‘thecompensated first input image data’) and the color coordinates of thecompensated first input image data and may not adjust the luminance ofthe second input image data to which the first compensation value COMP1to COMPN is applied (hereinafter referred as ‘the compensated secondinput image data’) and the color coordinates of the compensated secondinput image data.

The second gamma controller GC2 may receive a plurality of secondcompensation values LCOMP1 to LCOMPN corresponding to a plurality ofgrayscale values, receive the compensated first input image data (ODATA)as the input signal LIDATA and apply the second compensation valueLCOMP1 to LCOMPN to the compensated first input image data according tothe grayscale value of the compensated first input image data togenerate an output signal LODATA. The second gamma controller GC2 mayoutput the output signal LODATA. The second gamma controller GC2 mayoutput the output signal LODATA to the data driver 500.

The second gamma controller GC2 does not adjust the luminance of thesecond input image data and the color coordinates of the second inputimage data. When the second input image data are received as the inputsignal LIDATA, the second gamma controller GC2 may output the inputsignal LIDATA as it is as the output signal LODATA. The second gammacontroller GC2 may output the output signal LODATA to the data driver500.

The second gamma controller GC2 may receive a second input controlsignal LITC. For example, the second input control signal LITC mayinclude a second input vertical start signal, a second input horizontalstart signal and a second input data enable signal. For example, thesecond input control signal LITC of the second gamma controller GC2 maybe the first output control signal OTC of the first gamma controllerGC1.

The second gamma controller GC2 may receive an enable signal LGCON ofthe compensation operation of the second gamma controller GC2. When thesecond gamma controller GC2 receives the compensated first input imagedata, the enable signal LGCON may have an active level. When the secondgamma controller GC2 receives the compensated second input image data,the enable signal LGCON may have an inactive level.

The second gamma controller GC2 may output a second output controlsignal LOTC. For example, the second output control signal LOTC mayinclude a second output vertical start signal, a second outputhorizontal start signal and a second output data enable signal. Thesecond gamma controller GC2 may output the second output control signalLOTC to the gate driver 300 and the data driver 500.

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating luminances for grayscale values aftergamma compensation according to a comparative embodiment. FIG. 8 is agraph illustrating luminances for grayscale values after gammacompensation according to the comparative embodiment.

For example, in the comparative embodiment in FIGS. 7 and 8, the drivingcontroller 200 of FIG. 1 may perform the gamma compensation based onlythe second display area DB without considering the first display areaDA.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the luminance of the second display area DB notcorresponding to the electronic module is 0.045019 nit for the grayscalevalue of 4, 0.206852 nit for the grayscale value of 8, 90.62105 nit forthe grayscale value of 127 and 420 nit for the grayscale value of 255.Herein, the luminance of the second display area DB and the colorcoordinates of the second display area DB may be compensated to matchthe target luminance and the target color coordinate.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the luminance of the first display area DAcorresponding to the electronic module is 0.157477893 nit for thegrayscale value of 4, 0.629911572 nit for the grayscale value of 8,158.7475586 nit for the grayscale value of 127 and 640 nit for thegrayscale value of 255. Herein, the luminance of the first display areaDA and the color coordinates of the first display area DA may be greatlydifferent from the target luminance and the target color coordinate.

In FIG. 8, the luminance curve of the first display area DA may beinconsistent with the luminance curve of the second display area DB.

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating luminances for grayscale values after thegamma compensation of the driving controller 200 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10A isa graph illustrating luminances for grayscale values after the gammacompensation of the driving controller 200 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10B is agraph illustrating luminance differences according to grayscale valuesafter the gamma compensation according to the comparative embodiment andluminance differences according to grayscale values after the gammacompensation of the driving controller 200 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10C is agraph illustrating color coordinate differences according to grayscalevalues after the gamma compensation according to the comparativeembodiment and color coordinate differences according to grayscalevalues after the gamma compensation of the driving controller 200 ofFIG. 1.

For example, in the embodiment in FIGS. 9 and 10A, the drivingcontroller 200 of FIG. 1 may perform the gamma compensation consideringboth the first display area DA and the second display area DB.

In FIGS. 9 and 10A, the luminance of the second display area DB is0.045019 nit for the grayscale value of 4, 0.206852 nit for thegrayscale value of 8, 90.62105 nit for the grayscale value of 127 and420 nit for the grayscale value of 255. Herein, the luminance of thesecond display area DB and the color coordinates of the second displayarea DB may be compensated to match the target luminance and the targetcolor coordinate.

In FIGS. 9 and 10A, the luminance of the first display area DAcorresponding to the electronic module is 0.055017854 nit for thegrayscale value of 4, 0.244184526 nit for the grayscale value of 8,93.164974 nit for the grayscale value of 127 and 417 nit for thegrayscale value of 255. Herein, the luminance of the first display areaDA and the color coordinates of the first display area DA may bedisposed in the target luminance range and the target color coordinaterange.

In FIG. 10A, the luminance curve of the first display area DA may besubstantially consistent with the luminance curve of the second displayarea DB.

In FIG. 10B, when the driving controller 200 performs the gammacompensation based only on the second display area DB withoutconsidering the first display area DA (DGC off), the luminancedifference between the luminance of the first display area DA and theluminance of the second display area DB may be over 20% for thegrayscale values between 32 to 192 and may be over 10% for the grayscalevalues of 224 and 255.

In contrast, when the driving controller 200 performs the gammacompensation considering both the first display area DA and the seconddisplay area DB (DGC on) according to the present example embodiment,the luminance difference between the luminance of the first display areaDA and the luminance of the second display area DB may be under 10% forthe grayscale values between 32 to 255.

In FIG. 10C, when the driving controller 200 performs the gammacompensation based only the second display area DB without consideringthe first display area DA (DGC off), the color coordinate differenceAu′v′ between the color coordinates of the first display area DA and thecolor coordinates of the second display area DB may be about 0.02 forthe grayscale values between 32 to 255.

In contrast, when the driving controller 200 operates the gammacompensation considering both the first display area DA and the seconddisplay area DB (DGC on) according to the present example embodiment,the color coordinate difference Au′v′ between the color coordinates ofthe first display area DA and the color coordinates of the seconddisplay area DB may be under 0.01 for the grayscale values between 32 to255.

According to the present example embodiment, the display apparatusincludes the first coordinate calculator 250, the second coordinatecalculator 255, the gamma setter 240 and the compensation verifier 270performing the gamma compensation (gamma correction) of the first imagedata for the first display area DA overlapping the electronic module CMand the second image data for the second display area DB not overlappingthe electronic module CM. Thus, the display quality of the display panel100 may be enhanced.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display panel 100A of adisplay apparatus according to an example embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

The display apparatus and the method of compensating the gamma value ofthe display apparatus according to the present example embodiment issubstantially the same as the display apparatus and the method ofcompensating the gamma value of the display apparatus of the previousexample embodiment explained referring to FIGS. 1 to 10C except for theconnection structure of the pixel in the first display area and thepixel in the second display area. Thus, the same reference numerals willbe used to refer to the same or like parts as those described in theprevious example embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 10C and any repetitiveexplanation concerning the above elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A to 11, the display apparatus includes adisplay panel 100A and a display panel driver. The display panel driverincludes a driving controller 200, a gate driver 300, a gamma referencevoltage generator 400, a data driver 500 and an emission driver 600.

The display panel 100A may include a first display area DA and a seconddisplay area DB.

The display apparatus may further include an electronic module CMdisposed under the display panel 100A. In the present exampleembodiment, the electronic module CM may be a camera module CM.Alternatively, the electronic module CM may be a sensor module.

In the present example embodiment, the electronic module CM may overlapa first end portion of the display panel 100A. The electronic module CMand the first display area DA may have a circular shape. The electronicmodule CM may overlap the first display area DA of the display panel100A. The electronic module CM may not overlap the second display areaDB.

In the present example embodiment, the first display area DA may have acircular shape, may be disposed at the first end portion of the displaypanel 100A and may overlap the electronic module CM.

In the present example embodiment, the second display area DB may be aportion of the display area of the display panel 100A except for thefirst display area DA. For example, the first display area DA and thesecond display area DB do not overlap each other and the combined areaof the first display area DA and the second display area DB may coverall of the display area of the display panel 100A.

The driving controller 200 may perform the gamma compensation of thedisplay apparatus. The driving controller 200 may include a gamma setter240, a first coordinate calculator 250 and a second coordinatecalculator 255.

The first coordinate calculator 250 may calculate a color coordinates ofthe first image data of the first display area DA. The second coordinatecalculator 255 may calculate a color coordinates of the second imagedata of the second display area DB.

The gamma setter 240 may compensate the gamma value of the first imagedata by adjusting luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data. For example, the gamma setter 240may adjust the luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data such that the luminance of the firstimage data and the color coordinates of the first image data to be closeto a target luminance and a target color coordinate.

For example, the gamma setter 240 may adjust the luminance of the firstimage data and the color coordinates of the first image data by changinga gray scale value of the first image data.

The driving controller 200 may further include the compensation verifier270 determining that the luminance of the first image data and the colorcoordinates of the first image data compensated by the gamma setter 240are in a target luminance range and in a target color coordinate rangeand the luminance of the second image data and the color coordinates ofthe second image data compensated by the gamma setter 240 are in thetarget luminance range and in the target color coordinate range.

According to the present example embodiment, the display apparatusincludes the first coordinate calculator 250, the second coordinatecalculator 255, the gamma setter 240 and the compensation verifier 270operating the gamma compensation (gamma correction) of the first imagedata for the first display area DA overlapping the electronic module CMand the second image data for the second display area DB not overlappingthe electronic module CM. Thus, the display quality of the display panel100A may be enhanced.

According to the present inventive concept as explained above, thedisplay quality of the display panel of the display apparatus includingthe electronic module may be enhanced.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present inventive concept and isnot to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exampleembodiments of the present inventive concept have been described, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications arepossible in the example embodiments without materially departing fromthe novel teachings and advantages of the present inventive concept.Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included withinthe scope of the present inventive concept as defined in the claims. Inthe claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover thestructures described herein as performing the recited function and notonly structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore,it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the presentinventive concept and is not to be construed as limited to the specificexample embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosedexample embodiments, as well as other example embodiments, are intendedto be included within the scope of the appended claims. The presentinventive concept is defined by the following claims, with equivalentsof the claims to be included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a display panelcomprising a first display area and a second display area; a firstcoordinate calculator configured to calculate color coordinates of firstimage data of the first display area; a second coordinate calculatorconfigured to calculate color coordinates of second image data of thesecond display area; and a gamma setter configured to adjust luminanceof the first image data, the color coordinates of the first image data,luminance of the second image data and the color coordinates of thesecond image data.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a compensation verifier configured to determine that theluminance of the first image data and the color coordinates of the firstimage data compensated by the gamma setter are in a target luminancerange and in a target color coordinate range and the luminance of thesecond image data and the color coordinates of the second image datacompensated by the gamma setter are in the target luminance range and inthe target color coordinate range.
 3. The display apparatus of claim 2,further comprising: an image receiver configured to receive the firstimage data and the second image data; and an image storage configured tostore the first image data and the second image data received from theimage receiver and to transmit the first image data to the firstcoordinate calculator and the second image data to the second coordinatecalculator.
 4. The display apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: animage processor configured to receive the first image data and thesecond image data from the image storage and to convert the first imagedata and the second image data to a form appropriate for being displayedon the display panel.
 5. The display apparatus of claim 4, furthercomprising: a first curve calculator configured to receive the colorcoordinates of the first image data from the first coordinate calculatorand to calculate a gamma curve of the first image data; and a secondcurve calculator configured to receive the color coordinates of thesecond image data from the second coordinate calculator and to calculatea gamma curve of the second image data.
 6. The display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first display area includes a display portion and atransmitting portion, and wherein the second display area does notinclude the transmitting portion.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 6,further comprising an electronic module disposed under the display panelin an area corresponding to the first display area.
 8. The displayapparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic module is a camera module.9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the camera module overlapsthe first display area in a plan view, wherein the camera module has acircular shape, wherein the first display area is disposed at a firstend portion of the display panel, wherein the first display area has arectangular shape, and wherein the second display area is a portion of adisplay area of the display panel except for the first display area. 10.The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the camera module overlaps thefirst display area, wherein the camera module has a circular shape,wherein the first display area is disposed at a first end portion of thedisplay panel, wherein the first display area has a circular shape, andwherein the second display area is a portion of a display area of thedisplay panel except for the first display area.
 11. The displayapparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic module is a facialrecognition sensor configured to recognize a user's face.
 12. A displayapparatus comprising: a display panel comprising a first display areaand a second display area; a first gamma controller configured to adjustluminance of first input image data of the first display area, colorcoordinates of the first input image data, luminance of second inputimage data of the second display area and color coordinates of thesecond input image data; and a second gamma controller seriallyconnected to the first gamma controller and configured to adjust theluminance of first input image data and the color coordinates of thefirst input image data and configured not to adjust the luminance ofsecond input image data and the color coordinates of the second inputimage data.
 13. The display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising anelectronic module disposed under the display panel, wherein theelectronic module is disposed in an area corresponding to the firstdisplay area, and wherein the electronic module is not disposed in anarea corresponding to the second display area.
 14. The display apparatusof claim 12, wherein the first gamma controller is configured to receivea plurality of first compensation values corresponding to a plurality ofgrayscale values, configured to receive the first input image data andthe second input image data and configured to apply the plurality offirst compensation values to the first input image data and the secondinput image data according to the plurality of grayscale values of thefirst input image data and the second input image data.
 15. The displayapparatus of claim 14, wherein the second gamma controller is configuredto receive a plurality of second compensation values corresponding tothe plurality of grayscale values, configured to receive the first inputimage data to which the first compensation value is applied andconfigured to apply the plurality of second compensation values to thefirst input image data according to the plurality of grayscale values ofthe first input image data.
 16. A method of compensating a gamma valueof a display apparatus, the method comprising: calculating colorcoordinates of first image data of a first display area of a displaypanel; calculating color coordinates of second image data of a seconddisplay area of the display panel; and adjusting luminance of the firstimage data, the color coordinates of the first image data, luminance ofthe second image data and the color coordinates of the second imagedata.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining thatthe adjusted luminance of the first image data and the adjusted colorcoordinates of the first image data are in a target luminance range andin a target color coordinate range; and determining that the adjustedluminance of the second image data and the adjusted color coordinates ofthe second image data are in the target luminance range and in thetarget color coordinate range.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: receiving the first image data and the second image data;and transmitting the received first image data to a first coordinatecalculator and the received second image data to a second coordinatecalculator.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: receivingthe color coordinates of the first image data from the first coordinatecalculator; generating a gamma curve of the first image data based onthe color coordinates of the first image data; receiving the colorcoordinate of the second image data from the second coordinatecalculator; and generating a gamma curve of the second image data basedon the color coordinates of the second image data.